Traveling bag or box



Dec, 30, 1924.

D. J. COMSTOCK TRAVELING BAG oR Box Filed Aug. 23. 1923 g- 5 lNvENToR Mpaxil-1%( B "7 mm1 Patented Dec. 30, i924.

UNITE FICE.

DANIEL COMSTOCK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

TRAVELING BAG OR BOX.

Application filed August 23, 1923.

a citizen of the United States, residing at- Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Traveling Bags or Boxes, of which the following is aspecication.

The present invention relates to traveling bags or boxes, particularlyfor ladies hats and other apparel or articles and has for its object toprovide a construction, whereby more than one hat can be convenientlypacked without any danger of crushing or otherwise damaging the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction, whichwill permit hats and other apparel to be packed interchangeably ortogether without interfering with one another.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the detaileddescription thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, which constitutes part of thisspecification and in which similar reference characters denotecorresponding parts, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one embodiment ofmy invention; Fig. 2 a cross section on line 2-f2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 aperspective view of a detail; Fig. 3a a reduced side elevation showingthe case in open position; Fig. 4t a similar section to Fig. 1 of amodified form of construction of the case and Fig. 5 a cross section online 5 5 of Fig. 4t.

The box or bag, according to Figs. 1 to 3a inclusive, is composed oftwouniform substantially cylindrically curved sections 1.0, each havinga flat end wall 11 and a part of its cylindrical circumference {iattenedas at 12. The two sections are hinged together at their flattenedportions 12, as at 13, with their open ends facing one another. Theflattened portions 12 of the two compartments together serve to form 4abase. At points below the center of each case, are attached to the innerface of the cylindrical wall 1l straps or flexible bands 14 (Fig. 3a) ofsuitable length serving to hold the two cases at a convenient angleapart, when the same are tilted laterally into open position, while thecase is resting on its base 12. At convenient places on the outer faceof the side wall, I provide suitable locking means 15 for locking thebox in closed position. I also provde on top 0f the box two handles 16,one

Serial No. 658,888.

for each case or section. Tiltably attached, as at 17, to the inner faceof either one or each of the sections, is a substantially circular' iiap1T to serve as a lid for the open end of the respective section. In

closed position, the lflap or lid is adapted to rest on an annular ledgeor shoulder 18 projecting from the inner face of the side wall of therespective case. The flap or lid may have on either or Aeach one of itsfaces pockets 19 for the accommodation of toilet` articles or the like.Similar pockets 20 may be provided 0n the inner face of the base ofeither or each compartment.

I/Vhen using the box or either of its sections as a hat case, acentering piece must be employed, which, projecting into the hollow ofthe crown of the hat, is adapted to retain the hat steadily in position,soy as to prevent it from being crushed or otherwise damaged by'beingknocked from side to side, when handling the bag. Ordinarily suchcentering pieces are projecting conical or cylindrical bodies fastenedto the bottom of the box. When it isr desired to use the bag forarticles `other than hats, the centering piece must be detached andeither removed entirely from within the box or else accommodatedelsewhere therein, both being obviously objectionable.

According to my invention, the centering piece is made collapsible, sothat when its use as a centering piece is not desired, it can befoldcddown to lie flatly on the wall to which it is attached permittingthe packing of articles other than hats. rIto this end, my centeringpiece is composed of two separate strips 21 of stiffened material, whichare arranged contiguously side by side on the inner face of the sidewall of each compartment, as per example shown in Figs. l and 2. Each ofthese strips, at the remote side edges, is formed with -latorallyprojecting flexible iiaps or ears 22 of which one is arranged about themiddle of the strip and one near each end thereof.

Each flap is formed with an eyelet 23 ofthe i flaps intact, lthat is, inengagement with theirbuttons,v andthen the strips are raised and theirend portions bent in a circular manner, until the. end edges of the twostrips meet. At these points, additional buttons 25 are provided, whichare .adapted to engage the eyelets ot the end 'flaps` so that the twoerected strips now will to- ,gether form a cylindrical or tubular bodysimilarito the usual centering piece, which, when `projected into the`hollow of thel crown ofa hat, `will retain the latter in position.

The hollow of said centering piece may belutilized as a pocket for theaccommodation of :various small. articles, such as bottles or the-like.To this end, a lid may be provided -to close said pocket. This lid ismade up of two circular sections 26, each 'tiltably Vattached at thecenter ot its circu- :l-ar edge'tothe center ot the outer or upper edgeof'each strip, as at 27. These sections, when #the strips are collapsed,rest tlatly thereon. vNear their straight edges, these circular flapsmaybe providedwitha strap 28 and snap fasteners 29, 30, whereby the-twol sections oithe-lidfmay be held together in closed position.

inthe modification shown in Figs. et and 5, the bag or box is so shapedthat the hats, whenpacked,\instead of being supported on the side walls,as in the ilirst'examp'lm are suspended or supported by centering`pieces attached toltiltable fiaps or lids. The box is composed -of ytwocylindrically curved sectionsor cases 3l 4whose vend walls BZpinstead ofbeing `dat, as in the first example, are substantially hemisphericallyshaped. In each section, .I provide a tiltable tiap or '-lid 33, which`is attached to the inner face of the flattened base Het and `wherebythe section is divided into Aseparate compartments, 3G. The compartment35, which is-surroundcd'by the-hemispherical wall, is adapted toaccommodate a'hat and the other compartment 36 serves for packing other.artieles. The flap 33 is shaped and constructed similar to the flap 17,and rests on-a shoulder or ledge 37 projecting :from :the .inner ifaceot the side .wallet said vhat compartment. 'In its center, the flap b3may be provided with a centering piece 38 ot ordinary construction or otthe collaljisible construction heretofore described. The open end of.cach ycase may be closed by a :similar lid or flap 39.

It will be seen that a=bag constructedaccording to my invention Iis very4practical invthat it not only provides room for the accommodation of atleast two hats without any danger otcrushing or damaging the same, butpermits the use of the space therein interchangeably for hats and otherarticles without the necessity of removing the centering pieces. Anotheradvantage of my new traveling bag is that while the bag stands on itsbase in upright position, it can be opened in the center and retainedinthe open position permitting access at once to the compartments otboth sections.

-lVhat I claim is l. A. traveling `bag or box composed oi" cylindricallycurved sections or cases, each having a part ot its cylindrical sui-taceyflattened to liorm abase, and both cases being hinged together lat saidbase, the end wall ot each case being hemisphericalliY curved, a liaporlid in each case dividing the -latter into separate compartments, theone bounded by said hemispherical wall serving for the accommodation ofahat and means onthe `inner tace of said flapor lid Afor retaining a hatin position.

2. In a bag or box for hats and other articles, parallel stitfenedstrips so attached as to be capable of being raised and vbent to formtogether a tubular body adapted to be projected into the crown oic a hatand serve'bothas a hat retainer and pocket, a toldable flap on eachstrip, which when the lstrips are raised lwill together form a lid toclose the open top of said tubular body, means for securing said strips4in such -raised and bent position and means for 4locking said '.flapsin closed position.

3. fr traveling vbag or box composed oi' two cylindrical cases,eachhaving a part ot' its circumferenceitlattened to .torni a base and bothbeing hingedtogether at said base. a removable member on the innersurface ot the side walloteach case for retaining a hat inpositiontherein and a flap tiltably fastened at the uncture of the'twoflattened portions of the cylindrical walls of said cases and a ledge onone of said cylindrical walls serving as rest vfor said Hap separatingsaid two cases.

In testimony whcreotI l allixmy signature Ain presence otl two\.\ritncsses.

DANIEL J7. COMSTOCK. Vitnesses vMax D. OnDMaNN, JOSEPH T. MCMAHON.

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